Is going to University a waste if the world really does end?

Sometimes I think going to University is a waste. To start off, I was the type of guy who never tried much in school, I graduated from high school
when I was 19 because I got kicked out once missing a semester. Well Im 20 now, and Ive basically matured more and Im not up to my delinquent ways
anymore. So now Im just upgrading my marks at home and finding a job. Im hoping to go to University in 2009 for a 4 year degree. Possibly Political
Science and History. Sometimes I think it will be a waste because id graduate in 2013 and the world will end before that....

It really depends in what you are aiming to gain from it?
Other than that, if you have the money, the time, the will, and the ability to do it, then do it. If you are missing any of those 4 things I would
suggest rethinking it.

Every generation believes they are the last generation. Every generation has prophets of doom and yet we are still here.

Use that gray matter in your noggin and stay in school. The quality of the rest of your life depends on that.

The books in a University Library are far more reliable than the ridiculous pile of garbage you can find posted all over the Internet. Those facts
will help you to be able to discern fact from fiction in the rest of your life.

You can either serve the people who go to the University or be one of those being served. It is all up to you.

what you gotta ask yourself is....
even if the world doesn't end...is paying a buncha cash to go a a high priced college just to get a degree so I can slave away for the man really
worth it? especially if you know you aren't that great of a student?

I know plenty of people who can't pay off their loans, or ended up with jobs in completely different fields than they studied for.

I'd spend your 20's traveling and meeting hot chicks. Get a degree when you've had a little time to process the world around you.

I'm going to have to add "Blaine" as a friend since this is the 2nd thread where he takes the words out of my fingers.

...but I will add....I am 41 and in my last semester of law school and owe $125,000.....so what. I worked in the real world for years since my
undergrad back when the Berlin wall came down.

1) if the world was to end....no better way to go then to be living the college life and owing money when you die.
2) if the world doesn't end then you have still not wasted your time or efforts. I can't imagine in the economy of today how any highschool grad
has a chance unless they have some skill with cars or other labor intensive area or make it to "hollywood" (American Idol) or some other luck. play
the odds my friend. Those that brag that they have made it without school are either a) lying or b) one of the lucky. because.......
3) people, employers, care about that dumb piece of paper. Look at the dolts they parade on Fox and other media that are "experts" they get that
label because they have written something or went to some school or whatever. Now unless you plan on becoming the next "Joe the Plumer" than you
should go to school and if that means loans up the whaazoo, then so what.
4) anyone that tells you University is a waste of time and money are at best ignorant and at worst just jealous. 4 years of fun living off of loans
is worth it.....Its like camp. I was a crap student and went to college for the piece of paper.....almost bit me in the butt since I had no idea
that almost 20years later I was going to try to get into law school. I paid off my big school loans over the years and it was no more painful then a
damn car payment......guess what....you will always have bills if you are one of the many of us that can't pay cash for their house or plop $32,000
for a car.
...Live my friend and the degree is always something you can use. Maybe when you are my age you might want to go to law school too. You need that
piece of paper to do that.
.....So, it is a win/win to go to school in every scenerio.

Some people can't live like that. I myself feel that I don't need things that I can't afford with the money I have. What kind of life would
I be living if I was always worried about bills and loans, always slaving to pay back the money that I spent, but never earned? What kind of life is
it where money and things and the approval of people who don't even know me take control of my life? I am not going to college, so I guess I must be
ignorant. And if I do end up being a plumber or even worse, what does it matter to anyone but me, as long as I am okay with it others' opinions
shouldn't matter.

what you gotta ask yourself is....
even if the world doesn't end...is paying a buncha cash to go a a high priced college just to get a degree so I can slave away for the man really
worth it? especially if you know you aren't that great of a student?

I know plenty of people who can't pay off their loans, or ended up with jobs in completely different fields than they studied for.

I'd spend your 20's traveling and meeting hot chicks. Get a degree when you've had a little time to process the world around you.

my 2 cents

Since when can you not spend your 20's getting a degree, or grad school, traveling and meeting hot chicks? I've been doing all three with no
problem. And for every person you know who cant pay their loans, I can match with someone I know who can. that doesn't mean much does it?

To the OP, yes, go to school. Please don't let the hype of 2012 deter you from furthering your education.

Really, no one can tell you what is best for you, we only think we know what is best for ourselves, so my only advise to you is whatever you choose to
do, don't choose it just because another person tells you to or you think you have no other options, choose based on what you really want. And
whatever you choose, have no regrets over that decision.

Humans have always been fascinated with their own death, destruction or destruction of other things (Why I'm not to sure) but 2012 is just another
year (To me at least). Will still be in college, still playing games, Probably continuing to play Guitar as well as draw. Worrying over something that
is still up in the air will make you miss the wondrous things of life.

Since when can you not spend your 20's getting a degree, or grad school, traveling and meeting hot chicks? I've been doing all three with no
problem. And for every person you know who cant pay their loans, I can match with someone I know who can. that doesn't mean much does it?

yeah you can pull off all three, I never said it was impossible....but for every person that can I can show you one that can't, doesn't mean much
does it.

I don't know that yer really making a point here. I met a lot of brits while traveling and they said it's like a right of passage in the UK that
after high school you go out and travel the world for as long as possible. getting life experience will make one a better student, that's all I'm
sayin. I don't think he should skip college because of 2012, but I don't necessarily think people should go str8 from high school to college to
work either. It's good to have some adventures in there somewhere. Ultimately this kid is gonna do what he wants, but I reckon if he's the type of
guy who's worried about 2012, and admits to not being the best student either, then it seems logical that he should focus his life on other things,
it's not like he doesn't have time.

Originally posted by Bellus55
Sometimes I think going to University is a waste. ... What do you guys think?

I think that going to a University if the world DOESN'T end is a waste. There are 5 exceptions to that: 1) If you are going to be a doctor of some
kind 2) If you are going to be an accountant, 3) If you are going to be a lawyer, 4) If you are going to be a teacher (only because it is required by
law in most places), 4) If you can pay for it with cash.

I would advise young people to find what they like to do, learn how to make money at it, and start a business doing it. If someone had told me that
right out of high school, and I had followed that advice instead of going to college, I would be retired by now.

Think of it this way, if it costs you $5,000 a semester, that's $10,000 a year, or $40,000 over 4 years. (Not even remotely considered an expensive
school). That's about 40% of the cost of a house in most rural areas in the United States.

"Education" is now a scam in the United States.

Besides, think how much less money they would have if Bill Gates, Michael Dell, or Larry Ellison had actually finished college, instead of droping
out.

Im in Canada guys, so going to a University here isn't as much as a hassle as it is in the USA. If Im not mistaken I think the tuition costs are
lower, I can get a loan and pay it off when im done. By then it will be 2013-2014 anyway. I think I should go, just gotta get my marks up first.

Definitely, especially if the costs are much lower than the one ones here in the U.S. Again just forget about 2012 as well as end of the world
scenarios. Main priority right now should be grades and well financial stuff as well if you do intend to attend a uni.

Stay in school. There are no guarantees for a good paying job when you get out but atleast the confidence of trudging through calculus will stay with
you for challenges later in life. Plus a degree almost always puts you 1 click above the next guy in hiring.

This content community relies on user-generated content from our member contributors. The opinions of our members are not those of site ownership who maintains strict editorial agnosticism and simply provides a collaborative venue for free expression.